UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Kosovo

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UN Entities

• United Nations Kosovo Team: https://kosovoteam.un.org/
• United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK): https://unmik.unmissions.org/
• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – Country page: Serbia: https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/serbia
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kosovo: https://www.undp.org/kosovo
• UN Volunteers in Kosovo: https://www.unv.org/tags/kosovo
• World Bank – Kosovo: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/kosovo

Selected Statements and Speeches by UN Officials

• United Nations working to protect Peacekeeping Mission staff member declared ‘Persona Non Grata’ by Kosovo authorities, Secretary-General says (SG/SM/21096, 1 January 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21096.doc.htm
• Secretary-General notes with concern adoption of draft laws to strengthen role of Kosovo Security Force (SG/SM/19408, 14 December 2018): https://press.un.org/en/2018/sgsm19408.doc.htm
• Secretary-General to establish trust fund for displaced Roma, Askhali, Egpytian Communities in Northern Kosovo following human rights panel’s findings (SG/SM/18538-HR/5363-PKO/649, 26 May 2017): https://press.un.org/en/2017/sgsm18538.doc.htm
• Secretary-General welcomes smooth, orderly elections for Kosovo Assembly, urging strengthening of democracy, human rights protection (SG/SM/15923, 10 June 2014): https://press.un.org/en/2014/sgsm15923.doc.htm
• Secretary-General welcomes second round of municipal elections in Kosovo as ‘milestone for normalization process between Belgrade and Pristina’ (SG/SM/15511, 2 December 2013): https://press.un.org/en/2013/sgsm15511.doc.htm
• Secretary-General welcomes early assessments of Kosovo elections, but condemns attacks, physical threats at polling stations (SG/SM/15444, 5 November 2013): https://press.un.org/en/2013/sgsm15444.doc.htm
• Secretary-General, welcoming progress in preparations for Kosovo polls, strongly encourages widest possible participation (SG/SM/15436, 1 November 2013): https://press.un.org/en/2013/sgsm15436.doc.htm
• Secretary-General strongly condemns deadly attack on convoy carrying European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo staff members (SG/SM/15295, 19 September 2013): https://press.un.org/en/2013/sgsm15295.doc.htm
• Secretary-General welcomes landmark agreement between Belgrade, Pristina (SG/SM/14958, 19 April 2013): http://press.un.org/en//2013/sgsm14958.doc.htm
• Secretary-General encouraged by determination of leadership in Belgrade, Pristina to achieve substantial progress in dialogue facilitated by European Union (SG/SM/14878,
  18 March 2013): http://press.un.org/en/2013/sgsm14878.doc.htm
• Secretary-General, welcoming resumption of Serbia-Kosovo Dialogue, hails adoption of ‘IBM Agreed Conclusions’ as ‘encouraging’ (SG/SM/13999, 6 December 2011): http://press.un.org/en/2011/sgsm13999.doc.htm
• Secretary-General welcomes General Assembly Resolution on Kosovo Independence (SG/SM/13093-GA/10981, 13 September 2010): http://press.un.org/en/2010/sgsm13093.doc.htm
• Secretary-General, Preparing to Forward Decision on Kosovo for Determination by General Assembly, Encourages ‘Constructive Dialogue’ between Parties (SG/SM/13023-ICJ/623, 22 July 2010): https://press.un.org/en/2010/sgsm13023.doc.htm
• Secretary-General tells Security Council proposal to reconfigure United Nations presence in Kosovo ‘least objectionable’ way forward on divisive issue (SG/SM/11649-SC/9367, 20 June 2008): http://press.un.org/en/2008/sgsm11649.doc.htm
• Secretary-General in statement to press says Kosovo mission will continue implementing mandate under 1244 (1999) in light of evolving circumstances (SG/SM/11428-SC/9255, 18 February 2008): http://press.un.org/en/2008/sgsm11428.doc.htm
• Secretary-General says reality on the ground in Kosovo must be addressed as it develops, to ensure peace, security, in closing remarks to Security Council (SG/SM/11427-SC/9254, 18 February 2008): http://press.un.org/en/2008/sgsm11427.doc.htm
• Secretary-General in Security Council statement says United Nations aim in Kosovo stable political, security situation, protection of population, minorities (SG/SM/11426-SC/9253, 18 February 2008): http://press.un.org/en/2008/sgsm11426.doc.htm
• Secretary-General says, pending security council guidance, resolution 1244 (1999) will remain legal framework for mandate of UN Kosovo mission (SG/SM/11424, 17 February 2008): http://press.un.org/en/2008/sgsm11424.doc.htm

Selected Publications and Documents available online

• Reports of the Secretary-General on UNMIK: https://unmik.unmissions.org/sg-reports
• Kosovo Human Development Reports (UNDP): https://www.undp.org/kosovo/publications
• A/HRC/54/24/Add.2 (2 May 2024): Visit to Serbia and Kosovo: report of the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/54/24/Add.2
  Visit to Serbia and Kosovo from 28 Mar. to 6 Apr. 2023.
  Summary issued in all official languages; annexed report in English only.
• A/HRC/54/24/Add.2 (10 July 2023): Visit to Serbia and Kosovo: report of the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, Fabián Salvioli: https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/54/24/Add.2
  Visit to Serbia and Kosovo from 22 Nov. to 2 Dec. 2022. Summary issued in all official languages; annexed report in English only.
• A/HRC/40/59/Add.1 (25 January 2019): Visit to Serbia and Kosovo: report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/40/59/Add.1
  Visit to Serbia and Kosovo from 13 to 24 Nov. 2017.
• A/HRC/37/55/Add.1 (19 January 2018): Report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights on her mission to Serbia and Kosovo: https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/37/55/Add.1
• A/HRC/26/33/Add.2 (5 June 2014): Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Chaloka Beyani: https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/26/33/Add.2
  Contents: Follow-up mission to Serbia, including Kosovo [9-12 Oct. 2013].
• A/64/881 (26 July 2010): Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo : note / by the Secretary-General: https://docs.un.org/A/64/881 and https://docs.un.org/A/64/881/Add.1
• A/HRC/13/40/Add.3 (28 December 2009): Report of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, on her mission to the Republic of Serbia, including visit to Kosovo (30 April–8 May 2009): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/13/40/Add.3
• A/HRC/13/21/Add.1 (11 December 2009): Report of the Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Walter Kälin: https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/13/21/Add.1
  Concerns the situation of persons who were internally displaced from and within Kosovo in 1999 and thereafter.
• S/2007/168/Add.1 (26 March 2007): Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement: https://docs.un.org/S/2007/168/Add.1
• The Kosovo Conflict: Consequences for the Environment & Human Settlements (Balkan Task Force Final Report, 1999): https://www.unep.org/resources/assessment/kosovo-conflict-consequences-environment-and-human-settlements

Further Information

• Repertoire of Practice of the Security Council – Items relating to the situation in Kosovo: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/repertoire/europe
• International Court of Justice (ICJ) – Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo (Request for Advisory Opinion): https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/141

Non-UN Sources

• Security Council Report – Kosovo: https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/kosovo/

March 2025
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-kosovo/